Brian Molefe quits as MP

Parliament wishes to confirm the resignation of Brian Molefe as an MP effective from Sunday, May 14.

Parliament on Friday confirmed former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has resigned as an ANC MP, as news broke that he was heading back to the power utility.

“Parliament wishes to confirm the resignation of Mr Brian Molefe as a Member of Parliament effective from Sunday, 14 May. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete, wishes Mr Molefe well,” the legislature said.

Molefe is due to return to Eskom on Monday. He resigned under a cloud at the end of 2016, a few weeks after former public protector Thuli Madonsela released findings suggesting the Eskom leadership had stretched procurement rules to give a coal contract to the Gupta family’s Tegeta Exploration.

This week, National Treasury released an auditing report to parliament’s watchdog public accounts committee showing Eskom had failed to apply due diligence in awarding coal deals to the company.

Prior to President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle in March, Molefe was widely tipped as the country’s next finance minister, but the post went to Malusi Gigaba.